ATASCOCITA. The Official Publication of The Atascocita Forest Homeowners Assciation JUNE 2013 VOLUME 2, ISSUE 6

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1 ATASCOCITA FOREST Forest The Official Publication of The Atascocita Forest Homeowners Assciation JUNE 2013 VOLUME 2, ISSUE 6 Drowning Is Preventable The Texas weather is warming up. Summer is almost here. Pools will soon open and the cool water will be calling your name. You can almost hear your kids laughing and the playing in the pool. Your family deserves to have many Best Day Ever moments in the water this summer. Please do not let those moments be ruined by the sound of a life guard whistle blast or the need to do CPR in order to save your child s life. Most families love a trip to the swimming pool, the lake or the beach during the summer but the water can be deadly for a child. Did you know that drowning is a leading cause of accidental death for children between the ages of 1 and 14, with kids under the age of 5 at even higher risk? Colin Holst s parents did not know either. Sadly, June 13th marks the 5 year anniversary of his drowning in a public, lifeguarded pool in Austin. Since Colin s drowning in 2008, Central Texas-based Colin s Hope has become a nonprofit leader in water safety and drowning prevention. My name is Alissa Magrum and I am the Executive Director of Colin s Hope. But I am also a parent to 8 year old Ella. So, from one parent to another, please listen to this message. It is simple but filled with purpose: DROWNING IS PREVENTABLE. YOU can help protect your children. Following a series of simple water safety tips creates multiple layers of protection. These layers WILL keep children safer in and around the water and CAN prevent drownings. THE FIRST 3 OF THESE TIPS ARE KEY. Practice constant visual supervision. Always assign an adult water guardian whose ONLY responsibility is to watch children who are in, near and around the water. If that water guardian needs to take a break, they must transfer their watching duty to another adult. Learn to swim. Enroll children (and adults too) in formal swim classes. For kids under the age of 4, taking formal swim lessons reduces the risk of drowning by 88%. Wear life jackets. Children who cannot swim should ALWAYS wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when in and around the water. You can see additional tips, as well as more information on water safety and drowning prevention, on our website at org.. Each year, Colin s Hope volunteers stuff and distribute 75,000 water safety packets to families in zip codes that have been targeted due to the high number of near drownings and drownings in recent years. This life saving information along with a Peel Inc. ad campaign, a Reagan National Adverstising billboard campaign and a presence at many community events is helping to raise water safety awareness to prevent children from drowning. WE ALSO NEED YOUR HELP. PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION with family, friends, neighbors, teachers, babysitters everyone! We have seen the difference that being aware and being prepared can make. Communities that have received our water safety information in prior years have seen child drownings and near drownings in their areas reduced to zero! Please visit to find out how you can get involved in your own community. Find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, subscribe to our monthly newsletter or even support our efforts with a donation. We envision a world where children do not drown. Please share that vision and together we will get there. Wishing you the SAFEST AND BEST SUMMER EVER, Alissa Magrum Executive Director, Colin s Hope Copyright 2013 Peel, Inc. Atascocita Forest - June

2 COMMUNITY CONTACTS BOARD MEMBERS Ric Halbrook, President... Russell Lilley, Vice Bill Wisenbaker, Treasurer... Tom Meyers, Bill Shepeard, MANAGEMENT COMPANY Pam Valentine, CAM EMERGENCY INFORMATION Fire, Medical or Life Threatening Emergency P-4 Constable Dispatch Humble ISD Police (Schools) Atascocita Volunteer Fire Dept (AVFD) Non-Emergency Number Harris County Animal Control Texas Poison Control Center UTILITIES Electric, (multiple providers)... Power Outages Street Light Outages Gas, Centerpoint Energy Gas Leaks Call Before You Dig Trail fo Lakes MUD Aggressive Waste Humble Post Office SCHOOLS Humble ISD Website... Whispering Pines Elementary Humble Middle School Humble High School NEWSLETTER INFORMATION Editor - Bill Shepherd... afhoawshepeard@aol.com Publisher, Peel, Inc Advertising... advertising@peelinc.com Bashans Painting & Home Repair Commercial/Residential Free Estimates cell Interior & Exterior Painting Hardi Plank Installation Wood Replacement Sheetrock Repair Interior Carpentry Cabinet Painting Wallpaper Removal and Texturizing Pressure Washing Fence Repair/Replacement Garage Floor Epoxy Custom Staining Roofing Gutter Repair/Replacement Faux Painting Door Refinishing Window Installation Trash Removal Ceiling Fan/Light Fixtures References Available Fully Insured NO PAYMENT UNTIL COMPLETION bashanspainting@earthlink.net 2 Atascocita Forest - June 2013 Copyright 2013 Peel, Inc.

3 ATASCOCITA FOREST SUMMER POOL HOURS Please come and enjoy the pool this summer. It is a great way to beat the heat. Remember you must have your pool pass. Passes can be purchased at the CAM office in Humble. HOA dues must be up to date to obtain a pool pass. POOL SCHEDULE & HOURS Open from May 27th to September 2nd Tuesday Saturday: 12pm to 7pm Sunday: 1pm to 7pm The pool will be closed every Monday except for holidays for maintenance. Father s Day is Rachael s Attention Sunday June 16th Retailer: oo $2 OFF Please note that Hallmark has developed new brand iden reflected in the logos provided on this page and in the ad your store name reproduced in 18 point Gill Sans regula Please do not run the Hallmark logo along with your sto to incorporate the logo in a specific graphic manner. any $10 purchase www. facebook.com/rachaelshallmark 7/15/13 Note: Hallmark colorsexpires are Gold (PMS 130) and Plum *Not to be combined with any other offers or used on sale merchandise 7571 FM 1960 W. Lake Houston Pkwy Kingwood Loop Copyright 2013 Peel, Inc. Atascocita Forest - June

4 Trash Day & Recycle Day Please help the neighborhood and place you trash/recycle items out by the street the day before and pick up your cans the day of your pickup. This will help to keep our neighborhood looking its best! Here are your pick up days: TRASH DAY ONLY: MONDAY TRASH/RECYCLE: THURSDAY Please Recycle by using your approved blue container or your own receptacle with the provided decal from the Waste Management company. Recycle pick up is every Thursday! Let s keep our neighborhood looking great by placing your containers out the night before pickup and by bringing them in the same day after pickup. The AFHOA Board appreciates your help in making this happen! ~~~~~~~KEEPING IT GREEN AND CLEAN ~~~~~~~ Easy Online Sign-Up at Brilliant Energy Texas OUC #10140 BrilliantElectricity.com USE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER AS REFERRAL BRILLIANT ENERGY = SERIOUSLY LOW RATES BRILLIANT ENERGY S ELECTRICITY RATES CHALLENGE THE RATES OF EVERY OTHER PROVIDER IN TEXAS! LOCK-IN A LOW ELECTRICITY RATE FOR UP TO 3 YEARS BRILLIANT ENERGY IS RECOMMENDED BY TEXAS ENERGY ANALYST, ALAN LAMMEY THE HOST OF THE ENERGY WEEK RADIO SHOW ON NEWSTALK 1070 KNTH! Ask the Energy Analyst GREAT BUSINESS RATES TOO! DIRECTV is rolling out the RED CARPET FREE 5 tuner Genie HD/DVR Instant rebate on all packages Record, watch and playback in HD from any room Mention this ad for your VIP deal. CALL NOW! Pricing exclusively for Residents DIRECTV Prices starting at $29.99 FREE Installation Up to 3 FREE additional HD client boxes FREE HBO, Cinemax, Starz & Showtime for 3 months 4 Atascocita Forest - June 2013 Copyright 2013 Peel, Inc.

5 DROWNING IS PREVENTABLE ATASCOCITA FOREST WATER SAFETY TIPS AT Volunteer - Donate COLINSHOPE.ORG 5 years ago this month, Colin Holst tragically and silently drowned at the age of Texas children have already drowned this year. Be a Water Guardian and help prevent children from drowning. Ongoing: Volunteers needed to stuff and distribute water safey packets info@colinshope.org Ongoing: Colin's Hope Athlete Ambassadors needed! Now-June 18: Discount Schlitterbahn Tickets for sale. June 18: World s Largest Swim Lesson at Schlitterbahn Waterpark New Braunfels July 1: Colin s Hope Got2Swim Lake Austin 4 Miler (solo or relay) July 21: Colin s Hope Kids Got2Swim Pure Austin Quarry Lake LAYERS OF PROTECTION LAYERS OF PROTECTION CONSTANT VISUAL SUPERVISION LEARN TO SWIM WEAR LIFE JACKETS MULTIPLE BARRIERS ON ALL POOLS & HOTTUBS KEEP BACKYARDS & BATHROOMS SAFE LEARN CPR CHECK POOLS/HOTTUBS 1ST FOR MISSING CHILDREN VISIT US ONLINE Copyright 2013 Peel, Inc. Atascocita Forest - June

6 - Kids Stuff- You re very excited your mom and dad promised to take you on a fun camping trip this year. Or maybe your scout group is gearing up for an awesome canoe trip. Enjoying the beauty and nature of the woods is fun if you are careful. Here are some tips to keep you safe. PACKING BASICS Before you leave, pack these few important things to make your trip more comfortable and safe: map of the area compass or GPS (learn how to use it beforehand) cell phone (though you can t be sure it will work in remote areas) whistle bottled water and food sleeping bag flashlight with extra batteries sunscreen and sunglasses waterproof matches (for an adult to bring) first-aid kit with gauze pads, adhesive bandages, tape, tweezers, and antiseptic waterproof tent (set it up beforehand to practice) warm clothing, clean socks, and rain gear INTO THE WOODS Staying safe in the woods means using common sense. That means being aware of your surroundings and always camping with an adult. Never go into the woods by yourself. Some things you need to be careful of while you re camping are insects, poison ivy, extreme hot or cold temperatures, rain or snow, and areas where you could trip or fall. BUGS If insects bug you, ask an adult to set up camp away from the water and build a small fire. The water attracts bugs, and the smoke from the fire will keep most of the bugs away. Another thing you can do is to remember to keep the tent door zipped at all times, even if you re just going in or out for a minute. Also, turn off your flashlight before you enter your tent because insects such as moths are attracted to the light and will follow you. Always check for ticks at the end of the day when you ve been in the woods. Ticks can carry disease and germs. Some ticks are tiny, like the size of the head of a pin! You ll want an adult to help you inspect your body for ticks. Check behind your knees and ears, under your arms, and in your groin that s where your legs meet your abdomen, or belly area. If you re camping with a pet, have an adult check your pet for ticks, too dogs and cats can pick up ticks in their fur even more easily than humans. If you do find a tick, it needs to be removed. Get an adult to help you. POISON IVY Poison ivy is a plant that can cause an itchy skin rash in some people. Its leaves grow in groups of three, but the plant can still be hard to spot. If you accidentally touch poison ivy, wash the area with soap and water as soon as possible. The oil from the poison ivy plant can spread on clothes or even your dog. To try to prevent a poison ivy rash, there are products you can apply to your skin before going into the woods. Stores that sell outdoor equipment and sporting goods may carry them. STAYING SAFE OUTDOORS Your Campsite Roasting marshmallows and singing songs by an open fire are favorite camping activities. Adults, not kids, should start campfires. Adults also need to watch the fires and make sure they are out when you re done. Never leave a fire without anyone to watch it. Don t forget to put out your fire by dumping water or shoveling dirt on it when you sleep or leave your campsite. Feel the ground around the area where the fire was to make sure it isn t warm. Your Food and Water When you re exploring outdoors, eat or drink something only if an adult says it is safe. Even if streams or lakes look crystal clear, they could contain germs and the water may not be safe to drink. Bring bottled water to drink. Likewise, never eat wild berries. Some are poisonous and it may be tough to know which are safe. Good snacks for the outdoors include fruit, trail mix, crackers, granola bars, bread, and peanut butter. Your Clothing Wearing layers is a good idea when you re outdoors. That way, you can take off a layer or two if you get too warm. Wear comfortable boots when hiking so your ankles are supported and you don t get blisters. Keep your arms and legs covered while hiking to avoid ticks and insect bites and wear kneehigh boots and long pants when you are in an area with snakes. Make sure to take rain gear, such as ponchos and waterproof jackets, to keep you dry if an unexpected shower occurs. Watch Out for Wildlife Although animals are cute to look at, wild animals are best enjoyed from far away. Don t go near or try to feed a strange animal. It s better to enjoy these animals at the zoo, in books, or on the Internet. To keep animals such as bears or wolves away from your campsite, keep it clean. Food and anything else an animal might smell must be packed away. In fact some campers put all their food, even candy bars, in a bag (called a Bear Bag ) and hang it from a tree branch away from the campsite. If they can smell it, the animals will be led away from where the campers are. What if You Get Lost? Stick with your group when you re in the woods. Carry a whistle and blow it if you get separated from the group. If you have a cell phone and it s working, use it to make contact with your group. If you do get lost, wait in a safe, sheltered place for an adult to find you. The sooner you re found, the sooner you can go back to having fun in the great outdoors! Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD Date reviewed: June 2011 This information was provided by KidsHealth, one of the largest resources online for medically reviewed health information written for parents, kids, and teens. For more articles like this one, visit or The Nemours Foundation 6 Atascocita Forest - June 2013 Copyright 2013 Peel, Inc.

7 At no time will any source be allowed to use Atascocita Forest's contents, or loan said contents, to others in anyway, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, , electrostatic copy, fax, or etc. for the purpose of solicitation, commercial use, or any use for profit, political campaigns, or other self amplification, under penalty of law without written or expressed permission from Peel, Inc. The information in Atascocita Forest is exclusively for the private use of the Atascocita Forest HOA and Peel, Inc. DISCLAIMER: Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Peel, Inc. or its employees. Peel, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of any facts stated in articles submitted by others. The publisher also assumes no responsibility for the advertising content with this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content should be taken up with the advertiser. * The publisher assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising. * Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and/or misprints, the publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction. * Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to liabilities stated above. Take the SUMMERTIME Checklist Challenge: Has your child s teacher or school counselor recommended that he or she get help? Are your child s grades starting to fall? No matter how long your child spends on homework, it s often incomplete or inaccurate? Have you noticed that your child shows an increasing lack of confidence and/or motivation? Has your child lost interest in learning? Does your child exhibit anxiety before tests? Are you worried about the STAAR Test? SEND US YOUR Event Pictures!! Do you have a picture of an event that you would like to run in this newsletter? Send it to us and we will publish it in the next issue. the picture to AFCAnewsletter@ gmail.com. Be sure to include the text that you would like to have as the caption. Pictures will appear in color online at www. PEELinc.com. Or, do you just want your child to get ahead of next year s class? Does your child need tutoring this summer? If you checked one or more challenges your child may experience difficulty at the beginning of next school year. We are here to help. Give us a call today! One-to-One instruction No Contracts FREE Diagnostic Assessment & Consult Individualized Programs (K-12) SAT/ACT Fun Positive Learning Environment 3809 Atascocita Rd Humble, TX Copyright 2013 Peel, Inc. Atascocita Forest - June

8 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PEEL, INC. AF Thinking about... Alexis & Heather Sell & Sold in Atascocita. Call Today! Top Producer for 2011 or? Alexis Walls Guillory Team ABR/CDPE/SFR C E. Century 21 Realty Partners Serving Atascocita, Lake Conroe, The Woodlands, Magnolia, and Cypress I am a CDPE Certified Distressed Property Expert. I offer free local moves to my clients! (Some restictions) Alexisgetsitsold.com 8 Atascocita Forest - June 2013 Copyright 2013 Peel, Inc.